The nearly $9 million project, which would extend from just south of Cleveland Avenue north to U.S. 6, would consist of road repavement, a third lane for turning, a new storm sewer system, curbs and gutters, sidewalks, a raised median by the Oak-Savannah Trail entrance and added street lighting, according to project engineer Andrea Langille.
The project is slated to take place in 2022 and is 80% paid through federal dollars with a 20% city match.
“This is now the No. 1 priority on the city’s thoroughfare plan,” said Langille, who pointed out that the pavement is in disrepair.
Some frontage property will need to be purchased from some residents to accommodate permanent and temporary right-of-ways and utility and drainage easements, one of several concerns raised by residents Mike and Mindy Gajdik.
“They want to cut 21 trees across the front of our yard and put in an 8-foot sidewalk, which will cut half of our front yard,” said Mindy Gajdik.
She said one of those trees, a Rose of Sharon, was a wedding present and has sentimental value to them.
Mike Gajdik said drivers often do double the 30 mph speed limit on the road. He said the improvements will make it worse.
“The road is really dangerous, but the city doesn’t see it,” Gajdik said.
Resident Jim Sikora, who said he’s a professional engineer, gave a slide presentation showing current flooding in some yards. He said planned changes would result in flooding, as well.
“The water is not new except for all the hard surfaces,” Sikora said.
He said as a result of the project, the hard surface area will be triple in size. “I’m not here to stop this project, but I can’t have water damage,” Sikora said.
Several of the residents, including Sikora, said they believe the work is being done on behalf of Luke Oil, a Hobart company that owns the County Line Orchard and a gas station at County Line Road and U.S. 6.
Resident Ralph Gomez said he was upset with the lack of transparency from the city, saying it was difficult to obtain information regarding the project.
Robin Gomez said she and her husband and their six children have a little more than 2.5 acres and have more frontage to give than some of their neighbors, which worries her.
She’s also worried about flooding and air quality.
Mayor Brian Snedecor, Councilmen Josh Huddlestun, D-2nd, and Dan Waldrop, D-At large, as well as the city’s MS4 coordinator Tim Kingsland, president of the Stormwater/Sanitary Board, Robert Fulton, and Building inspector Michael Hannigan attended the event, along with several people from the engineering firm Butler, Fairman & Seufert, which is managing the project.
Additional comments can be made until Oct. 15 by mailing them to Butler, Fairman & Seufert at 8450 Westfield Blvd., Suite 300, Indianapolis, IN 46240 or by emailing Ryan Scott, of the engineering firm, at
PREVIOUS ARTICLE
